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| Disclaimer: The translated
text is provided for information purposes only. The most
up to date information is available on UK Border Agency's
Visa Services website. In the event of any discrepancy,
the English language version of UK Border Agency's Visa
Service website overrules the translated information provided
on this page. Please visit www.ukvisas.gov.uk
for the most up to date information.. |
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- How to apply for a visa?
Applying for a visa is a simple 5 stage process.
| 1. |
Prepare and make your online application at
www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk;
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| 2. |
Make an appointment online to give your biometrics
and submit your application; |
| 3. |
Visit the visa application centre to submit
your application, supporting documents and biometrics; |
| 4. |
Wait for a decision; and |
| 5. |
Collect your passport. |
Please note that you must complete and submit your application
form online and then schedule your appointment online before you
submit your visa application. All applicants are required to come
in person to submit their visa application. We can not accept
your application if you have not applied online, or if you do
not come in to the visa application centre personally.
Please make sure that your passport is valid when you make your
application, and that it contains at least 1 blank page on both
sides so the visa can be placed in your passport.
Step 1: Prepare and make your online application
It is your responsibility to make sure that you apply for the
right visa, and that you submit the right documents in support
of your application. The UK Border Agency produces a series of
information leaflets for the different types of visas available.
These can be found on the UK
Border Agency Visa Service Website.
Children under 18 visiting the UK
The
UK Border Agency has a Code of Practice for keeping children safe
from harm. To issue a visa to a child under 18, the visa officer
must be satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made for
their care in the United Kingdom. This means that the application
form must contain:
| • |
the address where the child will be staying.
Please note that is not enough just to give the details
of the sponsoring organisation, or the address of the school
the child will attend, unless it is a boarding school or
residential address; |
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the name of the person who the child will
be staying with; |
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the necessary signed consent forms from both
parents; |
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the name and passport number of the person
accompanying them to the UK. |
Make your application online through www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk
| • |
We only accept applications made online. |
| • |
A separate form must be completed for each
applicant. After you have completed the form you will get
a reference number for your application like GWF000000000. |
| • |
Print out your application form and sign it.
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Photo specifications
Please provide 1 recent photograph (not more than 6 months old).
The photograph should be in colour and:
| • |
Taken against a light grey or cream background. It should
be in sharp focus, clear and of good quality, free from
shadows. |
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Printed on normal photographic paper. |
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Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses
or tinted spectacles, hat or other head covering unless
worn for religious or medical reasons. The subject should
have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised
eyebrows) and the applicant should be facing forwarding,
looking straight ahead. |
Please note:
We regret we cannot accept photographs that do not meet these
requirements. For more information on photo
specifications please visit the UK
Border Agency Visa Services website.
Step 2: Make an appointment online to give your biometrics
and submit your application:
Once you have completed the online application form, you will
be prompted to book an appointment to submit your application.
You can either book the appointment at this stage or log in at
a later date to retrieve your application. You can also print
the application form at any time by logging on to the same website.
You can only make your appointment once you have completed and
printed off the online application form.
If you need to change your appointment date, please remember to
cancel the original appointment. If you don't do this, it can
make it more difficult for other customers to get an appointment.
You can only book 1 appointment for each person - if you book
more than 1 appointment per person, we may cancel all of them
without informing you. This is to stop people making bulk bookings
and preventing other customers from being able to make their own
appointments.
Step 3: Visit the visa application centre to submit your application,
supporting documents and biometrics:
Please arrive at the visa application centre no earlier than 15
minutes before your appointment. You will be directed to the reception
desk, and then to the waiting area. If you are too early, the
security staff will ask you to come back at the appointed time.
Please submit the following:
| • |
Your passport or travel document - make sure
it is valid, and has at least 1 page free for the visa to
be inserted; |
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Printed online application form with one photograph
attached; |
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The visa fee (Tenge in cash) |
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Any supporting documents
relevant to your application. The visa officer aims
to make a decision on your application on the basis of the
papers you submit, without interviewing you. In order to
help the UK Border Agency process your application as quickly
as possible, please make sure that you submit all supporting
documents with your application form when you lodge your
papers at the visa application centre.
All supporting documents must be translated into English,
but do not need to be notarised. If you would like any original
documents returned, please enclose a photocopy with your
application, and make it clear that you would like the originals
back. |
We recommend you make copies before you come to the visa application
centre. A photocopier is available at the visa application centre,
and a fee will be charged for photocopies.
All applicants must have a finger scan as part of the application
process at the visa application centre. Those exempt from a fingerprint
scan include:
- Children under 5 years of age
- Applicants for Channel Islands and Isle of Man
- Applicants for Commonwealth countries and British overseas territories
- Applicants for Right of Abode
- Applicants who are exempt from immigration control (Chapter
5 of Entry Clearance Guidance which can be found at www.ukvisas.gov.uk)
- Applicants who are transferring valid visas into new passports.
Step 4: Wait for a decision on your visa application:
Please refer to the 'guide to processing
times' page on this website for information on our processing
times. You can use this information as a guide to our recent
performance, although it cannot be used as a guarantee of your
individual visa application processing time. Visa applications
are assessed individually and processing times may vary.
Step 5: Collect your passport:
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You will be sent an email once a decision
on your visa has been made and your visa has been printed.
You can track your visa application on this website. |
| • |
You can collect your passport and documents
from the visa application centre either in person or through
a representative. |
| • |
If someone else collects the passport for
you, they must have an identity document that includes their
photograph; the receipt you were given when you submitted
your application; and a letter of authority from the visa
applicant. If your representative works for a travel agent
/ tour operator, they must be an authorised representative
of that company; otherwise we cannot give them the passport.
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Alternatively, you can opt for the documents
to be returned by courier for an additional nominal courier
charge if you wish |
Information for Groups
All applicants need to make their applications personally,
it is not possible for representatives to make group applications.
Representatives can book individual appointments or notify the
visa application centre directly by email if they wish to book
an appointment slot for their entire group to submit their applications
to the visa application centre. Please send an email to info.ukkz@vfshelpline.com
(for the attention of the Almaty Visa Application Centre manager)
at least 4 weeks before travel, providing:
- Name, email, telephone number of contact person
- Number of applications
- Date of travel
For each of the applicants:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Passport number
The visa application centre manager will then contact you to discuss
how applications should be submitted.
Note: Where groups include children, agents must submit a covering
letter detailing the name and passport number for all the
applicants as well as the contact details for the head of the
group. The letter should also include details of the children
travelling and identify the adults accompanying them.
Information for sponsors:
If you are sponsoring someone to come to the UK, please include
your full postcode on your invitation or sponsorship letter.
- Points-based system
Points-based system is a new system for managing migration for
those wishing to enter the UK for work or study. Please visit
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
for more information and the self-assessment calculator.
You can submit applications for all categories of Tier 1 starting
30 June 2008
Tier 1 Categories:
Highly Skilled Forum Judicial Review
The recent High Court ruling in the UK resulting from the Highly
Skilled Forum Judicial Review affects certain people who formerly
had leave in the UK under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
(HSMP).
A
policy document which explains in detail who is affected by the
ruling is available on the UK Border Agency website.
Tier 2 Categories
Tier 4 Category
Tier 5 Categories
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